Electrochemistry



Terms and Definitions


Displacement Reaction

- A reaction in which metal converts the ion of another metal to the neutral atom (Remember: More reactive displaces less reactive)
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Oxidation-Reduction Equation

- Known also as Redox reactions and electron transfer reactions, Redox reaction is a reaction where electrons are transferred between species

Oxidation

- Loss of electrons (OIL)
  • Oxidant
    • "Electron acceptor", causes oxidation and is reduced in the process

Reduction

- Gain of electrons (RIG)
  • Reductant
    • "Electron donor", causes reduction and is oxidised in the process

Oxidation State

- an indicator of the degree of oxidation of an atom in a chemical compound
- in monatomic ions, it will be the valence of the ion
- in polyatomic ions, it will be overall sum of charge (usually indicated by the superscript of its charge)

Fuel Cell

- Electric cell that converts chemical energy of a fuel (i.e. Hydrogen) into electrical energy

Galvanic Cell

- An "electron pump", it pumps electrons out of the negative terminal into the external circuit and "sucks" them back into the positive terminal, this occurs due to the redox equation
- Named for a device in which a chemical reaction occurs in such a way that it generates electricity

Battery

- Several cells joined together in a common outer casing

Electrode

- Conductor of a cell, connected to an external circuit

Anode

- Electrode at which Oxidation occurs, negative terminal

Cathode

- Electrode at which Reduction occurs, positive terminal

Potential Difference

- Measured in Volts (V) or Joules per Coloumb (J/C) is the difference in electrical potential energy per unit charge between two points. It is equal to the work required, per unit of charge, against a static electric field to move the charge between two points

Electrolyte

- A substance which in solution or molten conducts electricity

Salt Bridge

- Used to connect the oxdidation and reduction half cells, usually made of Potassium Nitrate.
- It used to allow the migration of ions to occur (and to keep the charge balanced in both cells so that the process can continue)
- To pick an effective electrolyte to be used in the salt bridge, it needs to not react with any ions in the solutions it is connecting and not form any precipitates with other ions


Redox Half Equations


Redox half equations are present in displacement reactions where electrons are passed from one atom to an ion.

Important things to remember:
A reductant is gaining electrons and itself is oxidised
An oxidatidant is losing electrons and itself is reduced

This is an example of a Redox reaction and its equations
This is an example of a Redox reaction and its equations